Motorcycle Rear Shocks - Shock Treatment

Many high-end shocks have remote or piggyback reservoirs, which allow more oil to be used inside the damping units, reducing heat buildup and giving more consistent damping performance. High-pressure gas (usually nitrogen) is also used to prevent cavitation in the damping oil. Cavitation is when the oil forms small bubbles of vapor as it's drawn through small damping holes very quickly. This reduces the effective viscosity of the oil, making it seem thinner and reducing the damping effect of the unit.

Finally, you may have noticed that new bikes like Yamaha's R6 and Suzuki's GSX-R750 have a new type of adjustable damping. The shocks on these bikes have separate high-speed and low-speed compression damping adjustment. How's that possible? For starters, the high and low speeds refer to the movement of the shock unit, not the speed of the bike. High-speed shock movements are caused by hitting bumps-when you ride over a 3-inch tall bump at 60 mph, your wheel has to move up by those 3 inches almost instantly, making the piston inside the shock move very quickly.

Low-speed shock movements are related to accelerating, braking and G-force effects when you go over a crest or hit the bottom of a dip. Separating out these two types of damping adjustment allows a skilled user more scope to set up a bike for better handling.

Whether you're roadracing or just enjoying your bike for street rides, a properly set up rear shock will make your ride safer and ultimately more enjoyable.

Tune It
Aftermarket suspension companies offer replacement parts to make your stock shock suit you better if a full replacement isn't in the budget. With basic hand tools and some elbow grease you can easily swap out the stock spring for one that has appropriate rates for your weight.

Check www.racetech.com for more information about suspension tuning and customization.